-
Travelling alone, but never lonely
As I write this article, I’ve been living in Skopje, Macedonia, for 8 months. During this time, I started reflecting on how I ended up moving abroad alone without knowing anyone… It made me question whether traveling alone is really being alone? Since I have never been afraid to travel or do stuff by myself,…
-
A full glass of optimism
Interview with Simona Soleva, psychology graduate 1. In general, optimism is defined either as the belief that in the end everything will be alright or as the conviction that there is always the possibility of positive change. Which one do you prefer? I think, in the core of these two beliefs lies the same thing.…
-
Give voices to the cats!
Badem: Zdravo! My name is Бадем (Badem), which means almond in my native language. My favorite daytime activity is coming to the office for cuddles and expertly distracting volunteers. Whenever people try to work, I make sure they maintain a proper work/cat balance, because that is very important. I will nap on their lap for…
-
Masked takeover of Strumica
Did you like going to carnivals as a child? Well, in Strumica you don’t have to be a child to do that. At the beginning of March, we had a chance to witness the 35th Jubilee Strumica Carnival in all its glory. As the presenter mentioned at the beginning of his speech, the Strumica carnival…
-
Four months of volunteering, a lifetime of memories
The first four months of our six-month European Solidarity Corps (ESC) program in Aruba have been a once-in-a-lifetime experience! Marija and I, from Macedonia, Despina from Greece, and Pascal from Germany were welcomed with open arms by our hosting organization – CEDE Aruba. The four of us, along with other local and international volunteers, got…
-
The art of critical thinking
Part one – Is this true? I have approximately 5 seconds to catch your attention, so I will go straight to the point—we live in a polarized society. People are angry about what is happening around the world and want to speak up. But we are drowning in an overwhelming amount of information. Everyone has…
-
Weaved in tradition
The idea for this article came to my mind while I was doing the design for my previous article titled “A Linguistic Tapestry of the Balkans”. I have always been drawn to traditional clothing from different countries, especially to the often colorful and intricate designs embroidered on them. So, this was the perfect occasion to…
-
VOICES April 2025
Dear reader, birds chirping on the trees, water rippling down the mountain, the wind is brushing through the trees and you feel the warmness of the sun shining on your face. Spring is starting and with it a new Voices edition full of inspiration and ideas. Spring for me is a time to reconnect with…
-
United in the pot(ato)
A round vegetable, buried in the ground, covered in a brown shell. Inside, its golden flesh unlocks endless flavors and delights when harvested and well prepared. This vegetable, known as potato—or as we call it, Kartof(f)el—is often underestimated as just a side dish. Yet, it flourishes in an endless variety of dishes and tastes. So…
-
Spreading Polish tradition, one “pączek” at a time
Being a foreigner during special holidays can be a bittersweet experience. While some of us have celebrated our traditions abroad before, this time felt different, more fun, more connected. On the last Thursday of February, we observed “Fat Thursday” (Tłusty Czwartek), a fun Polish tradition marking the last indulgence before Lent. This day is deeply…
-
Can you justify this?
– Disclaimer! Dry text about justice ahead! – Justice – a fairly simple term for a complex construct with even more profound implications. It is easily dropped as a matter of course, like a naturality. Whether in societal discourse, amidst heated arguments or during casual conversations, justice stands out through its omnipresence and degree of…
VOICES 